Coronavirus COVID-19

'I physically can’t do it': For some, COVID-induced parosmia means facing end of a career

As people head back into the office after years at home, those with smell disorders are struggling to handle a new wave of hideous smells. Some are wondering how they'll be able to work at all.

USA TODAY

CarrieAnn Young, a 27-year-old insurance claims adjuster from Sauquoit, N.Y., has struggled with anosmia and parosmia. She had been excited to return to work at the office, but didn't expect her sense of smell would make the workplace a nightmare.

CarrieAnn Young was passing the cafeteria at her job in early March when the smell hit her: roadkill.

The 27-year-old insurance claims adjuster stopped abruptly. Panic paralyzed her.

Young had been so excited to head back to the office that she hadn’t even thought of the one thing that would almost assuredly make the workplace a nightmare: her sense of smell.

Since catching COVID-19 in November, Young has struggled with the invisible sense most take for granted. First, she got anosmia, the inability to smell anything. Not her morning cold brew coffee with cream and five Splenda. Not the cinnamon raisin, gluten-free bagels she liked. Nothing.